Giro 2019 Favourites stage 19: Breakaway battle on last climb

The 19th stage of the Giro is played out on hilly terrain before the final haul up appears. The last 13.6 kilometres go up at 5.6%. The route is perfect for a successful breakaway.(Slideshow route/profile)

Probably, the breakaway will feature all types of riders. Hilly specialists, an occasional sprinter… and, obviously, a few climbers who are eyeing the stage win. The stupendous Passo di San Boldo is the only hard intermediate climb and the course is perfect to carve out a good lead. If the breakaway reaches the final climb with a big enough gap, the best climbers on board will battle it out for the stage win.

The final climb to San Martino di Castrozza is 13.6 kilometres long and the average slope sits at 5.6%. Which is not too tough. Normally, the GC men would keep their powder dry to save their energy for the last and extremely trying mountain stage of the Giro, but Nibali said that only winning counts and he he has to gain almost 2 minutes on Carapaz.

So, are we going to see a shark attack? Is Nibali going to fling himself into a Mortirolo-like attack? If he want to win, he has no other option. On the other hand, in stage 17’s last uphill finish the race unfolded in the opposite direction with Movistar – both Carapaz and Landa – gaining time on him.